Deutzia plant named ‘Duncan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Deutzia  plant named ‘Duncan’, characterized by its compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; bright yellow green-colored leaves; and numerous white-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Deutzia gracilis cultivarDuncan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Deutziaplant, botanically known as Deutzia gracilis, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Duncan’.

The new Deutzia is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of aunidentified selection of Deutzia gracilis, not patented. The newDeutzia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a branch of aplant within a population of plants of the parent selection in GrandHaven, Mich. in July, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings taken atGrand Haven, Mich. since July, 2002, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Deutzia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duncan’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duncan’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Bright yellow green-colored leaves.    -   4. Numerous white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Deutzia are most similar to plants of the parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich.,plants of the new Deutzia differed from plants of the parent selectionin leaf color as plants of the parent selection had green-coloredleaves. In addition, plants of the new Deutzia are more compact thanplants of the parent selection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of‘Duncan’. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which accurately describe the colors of the new Deutzia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Duncan has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Grand Haven, Mich., under commercial practice in an outdoornursery during the spring and summer. During the production of theplants, day temperatures were about 21° C. and night temperatures wereabout 17° C. Plants used for the photograph and description were aboutone year old. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Deutzia gracilis cultivar Duncan.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of a unidentified    selection of Deutzia gracilis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at 30° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About two months at 10° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Deciduous shrub. Compact and outwardly            arching plant habit; plants roughly rounded in shape.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Freely branching; about 36            lateral brances develop per plant. Pinching, that is,            removal of the terminal apices, enhances branching            potential. Moderately vigorous.        -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 20 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter:            About 3.5 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 141C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 6 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Slightly serrate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: 151D; venation, same as            lamina. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: 151D; venation, same as lamina. Petiole: Length:            About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            144C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single star-shaped flowers arranged            on terminal panicles. Very freely flowering with about 24            flowers per inflorescence and about 576 flowers and flower            buds per lateral branch. Flowers last about three to four            weeks on the plant. Flowers not persistent. Flowers slightly            fragrant, sweet.        -   Flowering season.—In the garden, flowering is continuous            during the month of May in Grand Haven, Mich.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 mm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 155B.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower. Petal length: About 9 mm.            Petal width: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse to            acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            and lower surfaces: Lighter than 155D. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Lighter than 155D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: About six. Calyx length: About 4 mm. Calyx            diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 145C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Angle to stem:            About 20° from vertical. Color: 143C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Angle to stem: About 40° from vertical.            Color: 143C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Ten per flower.            Anther shape: Round. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther            color: 12C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12C.            Pistils: Quantity: Five per flower. Pistil length: About            5 mm. Stigma color: 155D. Style length: About 5 mm. Style            color: 155D. Ovary color: 146A. Seeds/fruits: Seed and fruit            development has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Deutzia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Deutzia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Deutzia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from −30 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Deutzia plant named ‘Duncan’, asillustrated and described.